Even incomplete, Landry Shamet is giving Philadelphia 76ers fans reason for excitement beyond the big three.
The highlight of the Philadelphia 76ers‘ 2018 NBA Draft was Zhaire Smith — swinging a high-upside trade in hopes of landing an elite defender to complement the burgeoning young roster. Now 41 games into the season, Landry Shamet is stealing the spotlight.
Smith will eventually return, but for the time being, Shamet alone looks like a massive victory for Brett Brown and the Sixers. The Wichita State product is producing efficiently in heavy minutes, at times looking like the most competent reserve on the roster.
While the latter sentence isn’t necessarily ideal, it’s clear Shamet will provide value for the foreseeable future. He’s the ideal off-ball threat next to Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid and the Sixers’ core. He’s the heir apparent to J.J. Redick‘s spot in the starting five.
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That has never been more apparent than it was Tuesday night, when Shamet scored 29 points in under 24 minutes, canning eight triples in the process. He needed his temperature checked mid-game, picking apart the Wizards’ defense with smart movement and killer shooting.
Boasting quick mechanics, Shamet doesn’t need much room to shoot. Akin to Redick, he can weave around screens and find daylight in the tightest areas. There have been some off nights — that’s the case for almost every rookie — but on the whole, Shamet is filling a challenging role with impressive efficiency.
He’s shooting 39.9 percent on 4.6 three-point attempts per game, emerging as one of the better volume spot-up shooters in the NBA at just 21 years old. There’s also ample room for Shamet to grow — both physically and skill-wise — before reaching his prime.
In college, Shamet was an effective point guard, rarely turning the ball over and playing low-mistake basketball. He hasn’t been asked to do as much ball-handling in the NBA, but long term, there’s room for him to gradually evolve into a viable secondary creator alongside the stars.
If Shamet can add more high-level passing to the mix, he becomes an even more dynamic fit in Brett Brown’s system. He also has the chance to evolve past what Redick currently offers, although that’s a lofty — and arguably premature — bar to set.
It’s also worth noting the physical leaps Shamet is bound to take. While not an elite athlete by any means, Shamet is quick on his feet and competes hard on defense. If he can add more strength, there’s a good chance he develops into at least a passable defender.
With a core and system tailor-made to maximize Shamet’s current skill set, the rookie is primed for long-term success in Philadelphia. He’s already thriving in his role, which will only expand as his career progresses.
The Sixers’ bench needs work, but Shamet adds optimism to an otherwise dreadful second unit.
Stats updated as of Jan. 9.